Welfare of Destitute rural poor children & elders

Summary

Sevalaya runs free Homes for orphan,destitute, poor children and senior citizens, a free Higher secondary school for 1650 poor rural children. Most of them are first generation learners from families of daily wages laborers. Sevalaya's efforts have made a major contribution to the abolition of child labor. Sevalaya supports the higher education of the children and many alumni are well placed and successful in life. The senior citizens home takes care of destitute old people right upto funeral.

Challenge

Kasuva is a small village just outside Tamilnadu. When Sevalaya started its operations, there was no school in that village or near by villages, few people owned all the land and brick kilns and majority of the population worked as bonded laborers in the agricultural land and brink kilns. So there was 100% child labor. The average income of a family was 12 USD per month. For generations together, there was no education. The poor elders, who have no strength,were left to care of themselves.

Solution

This project opened up a free school, completely free - no fees, uniforms, books, note books, pick up and drop were all offered free so that the poor and destitute and orphan children can have an option open for education. Only if the entire package for education is made free, such children can come to school. Sevalaya staff went from hut to hut requesting parents to send their children to school. Sevalaya opened a free old age home, and invited the poor and destitute senior citizens to join.

Long-Term Impact

More than 500 students have passed out of Sevalaya without spending a cent for education. Many of them are well settled. Currently 1650 such children are studying in the school. Although free, Sevalaya maintains a very high standard in education. Year after year, it gets 100% pass results in 10th and 12th grade, which are board exams conducted by the state. Many have joined engineering colleges, supported by Sevalaya. The senior citizens get a peaceful last few years at Sevalaya.

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